Arguments, Arrangement and Analysis

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Arguments, Arrangement and Analysis
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Argument

• In this class, argument is used in the larger
  sense to persuade or convince someone to take a
  course of action.

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Types of Arguments

• Fact
• Existence
• Definition
• Quality
• Policy
• Rely upon arguments of fact for decision making
• Tied to appeals to expediency and value

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Types of Appeals in Arguments

• Logos fact based (the primary kind used in
  technical documents)
• Ethos based on character and authority of the
  speaker
• Pathos emotion based (generally considered the
  weakest type of appeal in technical documents)

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Evidence

• Scientific Data/Data from Study
• Citation of results from other studies
• Citation of other documents/reports
• Quotes from meetings/discussions
• First hand observation
• Hearsay
• Note that this might shift slightly depending
  upon purpose of document.

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Boiling Down vs. Expanding

• Boiling down finds few key points
• Expanding develops ideas with explanation and
  definition
• Choice depends upon audience and purpose
• Demonstrating knowledge requires expansion
• Getting someones attention or updating will
  usually involve boiling down

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Using Visuals for Arguments

• Help render some complex concepts more
  understandable
• Should always include labels
• Should always be discussed in the text of the
  document
• If they arent they should be in the appendix

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Some Argument Arrangements

• Time what happened when
• Space what happens in which space
• Hierarchy most to least important, general to
  specific
• Alternatives what choices there are
• Steps what needs to be done 1st, 2nd...
• Topics what key ideas must be covered
• Matrices complex decisions or choices their
  relationships

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Document Shapes

• Global major parts of a genre of document,
  purpose identified in executive summary or
  introductory paragraph
• Visual consistency in type, levels of headings,
  use of bold, italics, graphics, boxing, etc.
• Textual words/references within text to assist
  readers, cues that indicate part of text
  function ( e.g. summary, conclusion)

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Analysis

• All of the principles mentioned can be used for
  both production and analysis.
• For this class well be looking at how argument,
  evidence, and arrangement were used in your
  documents.